Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Villa poach Fox from Arsenal

Aston Villa have appointed American Tom Fox as their new chief-executive, after successfully luring the respected football administrator from his role at Arsenal.

- Ranking the Premier League's kits

He replaces Paul Faulkner, who left Villa in July, with Fox's role in negotiating Arsenal's reported 30 million pound-a-year kit deal with Puma one of the most notable acts he carried out during his tenure as the Gunners' chief commercial officer.

Villa remains a club up for sale following chairman Randy Lerner's announcement that he is looking to offload the former European champions to a suitable buyer, but Fox's appointment is further proof that the American businessman is not expecting to sell the club any time soon.

"I was delighted and even flattered by Tom's interest in the Villa job," stated Lerner, as he welcomed Fox to Villa Park. "His achievements at Arsenal speak for themselves and, above all, his reputation as a leader and team builder makes him, to my mind, a great fit to take our club forward."

Fox, who has been involved with the sports marketing industry for over 25 years and has worked for some of the leading brands in the business, is relishing the chance to try to revive Villa's fortunes on and off the field.

"Aston Villa has always been an important club in English football and it has a long and rich history of success at the top of the game," he said in a club statement.

"The chance to help restore the club to its rightful place in the Premier League is a challenge I'm really energised by and greatly looking forward to."

Villa started the new Premier League campaign with victory at Stoke last Saturday, with manager Paul Lambert and his new high-profile assistant Roy Keane doubtless hoping Fox's arrival boosts their transfer spending power in both the short and long-term.

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